Xi Says Party Can’t Be Split From Masses in Rebuke to U.S.

• President Xi Jinping said nothing will come between the Chinese people and the Communist Party, setting a combative tone at a difficult moment in U.S.-China relations.
• Speaking at an event marking the anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in the Second World War, Xi outlined areas where China will “never” accept foreign interference. He took aim in particular at threats to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) continued one-party rule.
• “The Chinese people will never allow any individual or any force to separate the CCP and Chinese people, and to pit them against each other,” Xi said.
• “The Chinese people will never allow any individual or any force to distort the CCP’s history, and to vilify the CCP’s character and purpose.” Xi did not specifically mention the U.S., but his comments are likely to be interpreted as a message about the relationship.

(Source: Bloomberg)